Strip packaging machines



J. H. STROOP STRIP PACKAGING MACHINES Jan. 12, 1965 8 Sheets-Sheet 1Original Filed June 22, 1957 WW I 1 aw INVENTOR. JoH/v /7. Snoop Jan.12, 1965 J. H. STROOP 3,154,935

STRIP PACKAGING MACHINES Original Filed June 22, 1957 8 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. JOHN h. Jmoo BYMEV Jan. 12, 1965 J. H. STROOP 3,164,935

STRIP PACKAGING MACHINES Original Filed June 22, 1957 8 Sheets-Sheet 3Jan. 12, 1965 J. H. STROOP STRIP PACKAGING MACHINES 8 Sheets-Sheet 4Original Filed June 22, 1957 INVEN TOR. J fi. 572E001 JITOEA/EY Jan. 12,1965 J. H. STROOP 3,164,935

STRIP PACKAGING MACHINES Original Filed June 22, 1957 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 1INVHVTOR. i JOHN ,Sr/eoop l BY Jan. 12, 1965 J H. STROOP 3,164,935

STRIP PACKAGING MACHINES Original Filed June 22, 1957 8 Sheets-Sheet '7207 IN VEN TOR.

Jan. 12, 1965 J. H. STROOP 3,164,935

STRIP PACKAGING MACHINES Original Filed June 22, 1957 8 Sheets-Sheet 8i.l3. L T1 /2 i P ww; I 333 5223M III T 14 INVENTOR.

JOHN H- .S'TROOP BY M United States Patent STRIP PACKAGING MACHHJES JohnH. Stroop, New York, N.Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Crompton &Knowles Corporation, Worcester, Mass, a corporation of MassachusettsOriginal application June 22, 1957, Ser. No. 822,085, new Patent No.3,054,236, dated Sept. 18, 1962. Divided and this application July 13,1962, Ser. No. 209,737

8 Claims. (Cl. 53-178) This application is a division of my copendingapplication Serial No- 822,085, filed June 22, 1957, for Multi- PurposePackaging Machine, now Patent No. 3,054, 236.

This invention relates to strip packaging machines of the generalcharacter shown in my-patents:

John H. Stroop No. 2,248,471, July 8, 1 941 John H. Stroop No.2,608,809, September 2, 1952 John H. Stroop No. 2,670,581, March 2, 1954The object of this invention is to provide a machine of the type aboveindicated composed of 'a basic structure and a plurality of unitsreferred to as machine blocks which may be selectively attached to thebasic structure to enable the machine to carry on any one of a series ofoperations. Each machine block is made with great preeision and hasmounted on it necessary individual parts which are completely adjustedrelative to one another. Moreover, the individual machine blocks arearranged to be quickly attached in position on the basic structure bythe simple manipulation of two bolts. The utility of the machine isbriefly illustrated as follows:

Through the addition of block assemblies the simple operation of strippackaging tablets'in tworows can be expanded to four rows of tabletspackaged at speeds of 1000 to .1200 per minute. QBy assembling anothermachine block the same basic machine can be converted to produce pouchescontaining multiple tablets, such as four, or even 'as many as onehundred, for example, produced at the rate of 300 pouches per minuteThrough the use of another block assembly these punches can be printedvice of machine blocks and changed over from one operation to another.For example, the rolls of packaging material are mounted below therotary die loeation'and are provided with means for slitting the webinto two strips and guiding them outward and upward until they enter thedie rolls in the machine block. Y

The'basic machine has the additional advantage of having a cabinetstructure with hinged sides which can be swung open to lie in theoperational plane of the machine which carries recording instruments,operation switches, dials and the like. At the same time the operator ofthe machine has ready access when the hinged sides are open to the webspool, operation-drive motors, cams, chain tracks, electronic equipment,temperature controls, differential mechanism, timing switches and allother necessary basic equipment required to function, motivate and drivethe machine blocks assembled as part of the machine at any particulartime. P

The structure and operation of the machine, together with a series ofalternate machine blocks which constitutes one embodiment of thisinvention, are shown in the accompanying drawings, to which referencewill now be had.

FIGURE 1 is a schematic drawing in perspective which illustrates thegeneral principle of the machine without showing the details of themachine blocks.

FIG. 2 is a perspective elevation of the machine with machine blocksassembled together with a feed mecha- 1 i chine block including bearingsadapted to receive rotary dies.

FIG. 3A is a seetional'elevation on the line 3A 3A- ofFIG.3,. i FIG. 4is aperspective of. a machine block which ineludes rotary dies mountedinposition and feed escapement mechanism adapted to supply a pluralityof tablets or small articles to be packaged.

FIG. 5- is a partially sectional elevation showing a machine bloek withmechanism peculiarly adapted to feed powder or other finely dividedmaterial into the pouches which the pouches are filled with powders orother finely divided material. I

The flexibility of the machine is further illustrated by the fact thatthe basic machine may begin with pouch forming machine blocks withoutregistration and then, if

of the strip package.

FIG. 6 is. a sectional plan view on the line 6--6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 corresponds to FIG. 5 but shows an alternative mechanism adaptedto feed liquid into the pouches formed in the packaging machine. i

" FIG. 8 is a sectional plan view on the line 8-45 of FIG. 7..

s FIG. 9 isa plan'view, FIG. 10 a partially sectional elevation, andFIG. 11 'anend elevation of a' machine block hav'ing sponge feeder rollsand cutting knives indesired, may be modified to provider'egistrationand again I furthermodified to give'automatic control.

.A machine block may be completely assembled to include a rotor head,dies and escapement'mechanism for handling a plurality of tablets orother small articles. This may be retained with all of its parts mostcarefully ad- 'justed and held ready for use at any time, and when notor delay-when the machine is modified by the substitution which is ofutmost importance when the webs carry eluded therein.

"FIG. 1 1A isja View showing thedriving chain.

FIG. 12 illustrates the mechanism for compensating for any tendency forthe two strips of which the packages.

are formedlto get outv of register. In other words, the

meehan'ismis adapted, to automatically maintain the webs of which thepackages are formed in complete register,

I printed or illustrative insignia. Usually the'pouehes have FIG, 14 isa top view ofthe same in whiehbroken lines indicate 'the'hinged mountingof the pane ls. I Having special reference to the schematic diagram"such insignia on both sides and must bekept in register with oneanother.

FIG. 13 is .a frontelevation of' the basic machine \m'th its doors opento constitute instrument panels, and

of FIG. 1, the primary or basic element of the machine 1 comprises ahousing 10 having a base extension 11 to increase its stability, anuppereabinet secti0n-12, the V side elements of which are hinged to openout as hereinafter explained. Web roll cutters and guides are offsetfrom the machine in FIG. 1 for convenience of description, but theseelements form a part of the primary machine and include a web roll 13, aweb cutter 14, a guide plate having a triangular notch over which theweb 16 passes. The two webs formed by the cutter extend laterally outfrom the guide plate and upward over guides 17 and 18. Thence the websapproach each other and pass over guides 19 and downward between dierolls where the pouches are formed and filled. In forming simple pouchesof relatively large size to receive powdered or granular material or aquantity of capsules, no preforming of pockets in the webs is necessaryand no rollers are provided for that purpose. For convenience, the twoparts of the divided web strips 16 are marked 16a and 16b.

Machine blocks designated 21, 22 and 23 are alternative frames in whichdie rollers may be mounted. A machine block 24 is a photo scanning andsignaling element which may or may not be required. 25 represents amachine block adapted for feeding tablets, 26 a ma chine block adaptedfor feeding liquids, and 27 a ma-- chine block adapted for feedingpowders, granules or the like. 28 represents a machine block which isparticularly adapted for feeding the material to be packaged.

It is significant that the web roll is mounted inside of the housing ofthe main machine and nearer the bottom, the web being drawn out througha slot 30 in the front of the housing. The guide plate 15 turns the webstrips 16a and 16b outwardly, and they then pass upwardly at the frontof the machine and do not interfere with the introduction of machineblocks such as 21, 22 and 23- whieh carry the die rolls. 7'

Having generally described the arrangement and adjustability of themachine and machine blocks, reference may now be directed to FIG. 2 inwhich corresponding parts have the same reference characters. 7

As here shown, one machine block 20 has rolls 31 provided with lugs 32,over which the webs pass, and thus have pocket indentations preformedtherein. The webs thence pass upwardly and wrap around the die rolls 35where strip packages are formed.

A feed and escapement mechanism, which is shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, may berigidly attached and form a part of one machine block or, on the otherhand, the feed and escapement mechanism -may constitute a separatemachine block, as it is frequently desirable to sub stitute a specialfeed mechanism for powders and llquids as hereinafter described. Thereis, however, considerable advantage to be gained by making the feed andescapement mechanism a definite part of the machine block as shown inFIG. 4, so that the assembled machine block needs only to be mounted onthe housing of the basic 7 machine and no readjustment of parts isnecessary.

By reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, such a machine block may readily'beunderstood, and it comprises a frame 46 having opposite ends providedwith slots, as shown at 41 and 42, within which are mounted bearingblocks 43 and 44. As shown, the bearing blocks 43 are in a fixed centralposition, whereas the bearing blocks 44 are mounted in the bearing blockrace 45, and each of them' may be adjusted by a screw 46, whichisprovided with adjusting nut 47 and lock nut 43. As shown in these FIGS.3 and 4, adjusting screws are located at the four corners of the frameand serve to adjust bearing blocks 44 to the exact position required.

Journaled in the bearing blocks 43 is a pair of rotary die rolls 50having the usualpockets 51. ,Journaled in bearing blocks 44are rolls 52having lugs 53 which preform pockets in the web strips 16a and 16b, asthey pass over these rolls. The lugs 53 on the rolls 52 correspond inlocation and in number to the pockets '51 on the "rolls 50, andpreferably the webstrips" pass from guides 18 through the notchedopening-54 of. the frame 40 and then pass upward between pocket formingroll 52 and adjacent die roll 56, over which the web strip wraps andpasses downwardly between the die rolls in the usual manner.

The machine blocks are often made up as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 with aset of die rolls and a set of rolls for preforming pockets in the websmounted in the same frame. However, it is not usual to mount thetransverse sealing rolls, such as shown in FIG. 2, in the same framewith the die rolls and, in fact, a separate machine block would usuallybe employed, because the position of the transversesealing rolls wouldvary with respect to the die rolls, depending on the size of the pocketsor pouches being formed in the machine.

As shown in FIG. 2, an additional machine block 60 is mounted on thefront of the machine housing and carries a pair of cutter rolls 61 and62 adapted to make periodic transverse cuts in the strip package betweenpockets and may also make a longitudinal cut segregating the strippackage into individual sealed packages.

A feed trough 63 is mounted on the frame 46 and attached thereto, asshown in FIG. 4, is a feed hopper 64 which delivers the tablets or othersolid objects into several vertical troughs 65. An agitator mechanismcom prised of a perforated strip 66 is adapted to slide back and forthin response to finger 67 which extends upwardly through a hole 68 in thestrip 66. The finger is a part of and extends from a pivoted block 69which is spring pressed in one direction by spring 70 and moves againstthe spring by the action of a roller 71 on the lower end of the block 69which contacts a rotary cam 72. The tablets are fed from the mainstorage hopper '75, as shown in FIG. 1, to the feed hopper 64 so thatthe channels 65 are kept filled with tablets or other solid articles tobe packaged.

The pellets are individually, or in multiples, allowed to feed down intothe pockets by an escapement mechanism which comprises small fingers 78which are mounted in a plate 155 attached to an escapement plate 156.Escapernent plate 156 is mounted so that it is pushed periodically andcarries with it the escapement fingers by the action of cam 157 mountedon the end of one of the die rolls.

From each trough 65 the pellets are released individually by escapementpins 78, the arrangement being such that the pellets from the severaltroughs are dropped simultaneously into the preformed pockets betweenthe webs just before the web strips 16a and 1612 are heat sealed to eachother.

The storage hopper is a machine block which is capable of being attachedand put into use or removed, according to the requirements of theoperator. For example, if the machine block 40 having the hopper andescapement mechanism permanently attached to it, is to be used, then inthat case the storage hopper machine block will also be attached todischarge the tablets into the machine hopper.

In case the operator desires to package powdered or granular'substances,.another machine block the operating parts'of which areshownin FIGS. 5 and 6, will be substituted for the machine block 40 andthe feed mechanism designated 64 and the storage hopper 75, and itsparts will not be employed.

In FIGS. 5 and 6 a frame, 80, which corresponds to the frame 40, has apair of primary die rollers 81 mounted. in the frame with bearings 43. Apair of sealing rollers 82, also located in the usual manner, aremounted in a separate frame 3 which forms a separate machine block, ismounted on the machine base and may be fixed at a desired positionrelative to the machine block carrying the die'rolls, determinedby thesize of the desired pouch being filled. The sealing rollers producetransverse seals closing the ends of the pouches. Web strips 83 and 84correspond to 16a and 16b and wrap around the rollers .81 and continuedownward between-the sealing rollers 82. As clearly shown in FIG. 6, thedie roll-' ers 81, which are heated in the usual manner, have collars 85and 86 near their ends and a central collar 87.

The arrangementis such that the web strips are pressed together and heatsealed along their longitudinal edges, as indicated at 87 and 88 and inthe center as indicated at 89. Two feeder mandrels 90 project downwardlyfrom supporting plate 91, extend between the die rolls in the openingsformed by the collars-85, 86 and 87 and end, as shown in FIG. 5, at 92close to the sealing rollers 82, which operate to press the web stripstogether and form a transverse seal, thereby closing the pockets firstat the bottom. This arrangement does not in any way interfere with thefeeding of finely divided or granular material into the mandrels 90 fromthe top.

As the webs progress, and after the pockets have been filled, the nexttransverse seal formed by the sealing rollers 82 closes and seals thetop of the packages which in the meantime have received a measuredquantity of the granular material being packaged.

In FIGS. 5 and 6 a mechanism is. shown for feeding measured quantitiesof granular material to be packaged. 95 is a hopper into which thegranular material is'introduced, and from which it is'elevated by anauger 96 in a conveyor tube 97. The auger'96 is rotated by a gear 98 andpinion 99. As the granular material is carried up in the tube 97 it soonreaches discharge opening 100 having a guide lip 101. The frame 80 hasslots 110 in which bearing blocks 111 are slidably mounted. Attached tothe shaft 105 is, a gear wheel 112 which meshes with a rack 113. Therack is at the outer end of a piston rod 114 which is actuated in anysuitable fashion within cylinder 115, as for example by'air or bysolenoid. The

motion of the piston rod 114 and of the rack 113 is reciprocal. In oneposition, as shown in full lines in FIG.

which is :continuously being discharged from the opening 100.

A doctor blade 169 is mounted in a relatively fixed position and restson top of the cup or pocket 102. This arrangement is such that whenpiston rod 113 is retracted, therack cannot cause the gear to turnbecause the arm 104 cannotiswing'since it is held down by the doctorblade 160. However, when the piston rod 113 retracts, the first movementis one of drawing the shaft 105 with its bearings 111 to the back end ofthe slots 110 in which they are located. This movement isnot great butis sufficient so that the cup moves across and is raked by the doctorblade, after which the arms 104 are free and the further action of thepiston 113.causes them to quickly swing over and dump the contents ofthe cups into the top'of the hollow-mandrels90. H i

{ The pockets intheir'upside-down position are directly overtheopenupper end of the mandrels 90,and the action is' so sudden thatnone of the granular material falls out'of the pockets in transit but isforcibly dumped when the pocket element strikes the supporting plate 91.Thus a measured quantity of granular material is discharged into eachmandrel, falls downwardly therein, as ,shown in FIG. 5, and becomessealed into the pockets making large size packages-and hence only twoare shown. It should, however, be understood that .a. single FIGS. 7 and8 illustrate a machine block which may be substituted for that shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, when it is desired to fill the strip packages with liquidor semiliquid substances. Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, 120 indicates aframe, which corresponds to frame 80 and frame 40, and has mountedtherein a pair of die rolls 121 each of which, as illustrated in FIG. 8,has a plurality of corresponding collars 122 which heat seal the webstrips 124 longitudinally and leave spaces between seals into whichfiller mandrels 125 extend. The liquid or semiliquid substance to bepackaged is contained in a pressure storage tank 126 from which it flowsthrough a check valve 127 into a pocket in measuring plunger 130. Aflexible tube or hose 131 connects the pocket to the outer end of themandrel 125 and does not interfere with the reciprocating action of the.'measuring plunger 130 which is actuated by cam 170. The stroke of themeas uring plunger 130 is determined by an adjustment of a screwmechanism 171. The quantity of liquid picked up' amount of liquid willenter the pocket and will be trans-' mitted thence through the flexiblehose 131 and discharged into the top of the hollow mandrel 125. Theamount of large package may be made'ata time or three ormo re smallerones, depending on, the size of themachine; the

requirements ofthe' trade and the desire of the operator.

' The granular material as "shown in the drawingsy'is continuallyagitated by a 'pumphaving centripital blades 1161, which aremountedatthevbottom of a rotary sleeive 162 andvare rotated by a gearwheel "163. actuated by worm 164. I l

liquid picked up with each stroke of the plunger depends entirely on thedistance that, the plunger travels and the area of the measuring pocketwithin it. I

Transverse sealing rollers 140 correspond to the sealing rollers 82 ofFIG. .5 and actto transversely heat seal the web strips 124 and thusclose the lower ends of the packages just before a measured quantity ofliquid or semiliquid material is forced fromthe measuring pocket 130through fiexibletube 131 and is discharged through mandre'l intothepackage. "As soon as the strip package moves downwardly anothertransverse seal is made by the sealing rollers '140, thus closing thepackages at'the top.

. While I have described only the mechanism for a single package, itwill be understood that there will be as many mandrels as there arepockets tobe filled and as many flexible tubes'and measuring pockets,all of whichwill'be coupled with pressure storage tank 126. For example,in

the arrangement shown in FIG. 8, there will be four mandrels and fourpipes but it is clear that a single series of pockets maybe made andfilled, or two or more, depending on the size and quantity of packageswhich are desired.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 9, 10 and 11, another machine'block ishere illustrated which comprises 'generally a pair of feed rolls and acutter mechanism whichv is peculiarly adapted to sever the strippackages atthe seals While avoiding the yery troublesome tendency forthe web packaging material i on the face of the knife instead ofp-roceedingin a continuous downwardflowas desired.

The machine' block here shown comprises a frame 280 in which is mounteda pair of sponge puller rolls 281 aiid' 282 having end shaft extensions283 mounted in bearing blocks 284, which as shown in -FIG. 10 aremounted in bearing'block races 285 at the outer and inner endof frame280. At the inner end of rollers 282 the shaft 283 extends beyond theframe;--280-and has mounted thereon alsprocket wheel 286. Also mountedon the frame, as shown in FIG. 10 is a cam 290 driven by sprocket 291.

' Two bearing lugs 292 and 293 are-mounted on the bottom of theframej28.0 at opposite sides for carrying asIiding just after it is severedtoride rod 294 having a collar 295 aflixed thereon. Another block 296 isattached to the slidable rod 294, and spring 298 between the bearingblock 292 and the block 296 tends to force the rod 294 against thebuffer 299 which is mounted on the adjusting screw 300 supported fromthe frame 280 by bracket 301. attached to the block 296 moves back andforth as rod 294 is reciprocated by the action of cam 290. This movingblade 302 cooperates with a stationary blade 303, which is attached tothe frame 280 and has a beveled edge which cooperates with the movingblade.

The cam 290 has a notch with a radial surface 304 and, as the cam isrotated in a clockwise direction, it pushes against the block 295 andmoves the slidable rod 294 against the action of the spring 298. The camis so shaped that the movement of the block 295 and of the rod 294 isadequate to produce a scissor-like cut in'the sealed section of thestrip package which is being pulled down wardly through the sponge rolls281 and 282 and is then quickly returned to open position against thespring 298.

A bumper 299 may be of rubber or like elastic material, and its positionis adjusted by the screw 300 so that the end of the rod 294 in itsbackward movement strikes against the buffer, and the block 295 does notcontact the actuating surface 304 of cam 290, butonly a small clearanceis provided.

The moving blade 302, as clearly shown in FIG. 11, is attached at oneend to block 296 and at the opposite end is guided by a pair of smallrollers 305. Y

Centrally attached to the moving blade 302 is a block 306. A clearancefollower 307 having end lugs 308 is mounted on the ground surface of themoving blade 302 and is attached by a wire spring 309 which extendsthrough block 306 and through holes in the lugs 3081 The clearancefollower is so arranged that when the movable knife is operated, itmakes a cut thus severing the strip package, permitting the lower partto immediately drop. The upper part of the strip tends to ride on themovable blade and the clearance follower by the action of the springwire 309 pushes it off the knife. a

This simple mechanism has overcome a'difliculty which has existed intransverse cutters for strip packages and has given repeated trouble inthe past.

The small-scale semi-diagrammatic view of FIG. 11A illustrates the chaindrive for an assembly'including machine block 80 having rotary dies 81and a sprocket wheel 81a, a machine block 93 having sealing rollers 82driven by sprocket 82a, the machine block 280 of FIGS. 9, and 11, thesponge puller rolls 281 and 282 driven by sprocket wheel 286 and cam 290driven by sprocket 291. A drive motor 350 has a sprocket wheel 351 whichoperates continuously in one direction as shown by the arrow. Drivechain from the sprocket 351 passes around a take-up sprocket 352 mountedon a pivoted arm 353 which puts tension on the chain by reason of spring354. The chain then continues over drive sprockets 355 and 356, thenceover sprocket 81a, continuesdownward over sprocket 82a and aroundsprocket 286, .thence over a sprocket 310 mounted on bracket 31 1,thence the chaincontinues over sprocket291 which drivesthe cam andreturns to the motor sprocket351. v V

Bracket 311 is pivoted at 360 and maybe swung backward or forward by anadjusting screw 361 which extends through the housing of the machine andhas a thumb nut 362 which may readily be adjusted'to position thesprocket 310.

If the cut madeby the reciprocating cutter of FIG. 10 is too low or toohigh, an adjustment of the thumb nut 362 causes the drive chain to'movein one direction or the other so as to make a rotary adjustment at thedie 7 rolls 81, the transverse sealingrolls 32 and the puller againstthe chain by the spring 354 keeps the chain always at the .desiredtension fol-correct operation, .although A moving scissor blade 302' thewhole position of the chain is adjusted as above de-' scribed.

It will be understood that the drive motor 350 and the sprockets are alllocated within the body of the machine housing into which the shafts ofthe rollers extend, and therefore the-chain drive may be easily andquickly uncoupled in case only one or two machine blocks are employed.

Furthermore, the adjusting screw 361 may be unpinned from the bracket311 so as to permit the ready removal of the machine block 280 if thisis not required for any particular operation.

All of the parts which have been described, together constitute acomplete machine block which may be readily attached to or detached fromthe frame of the primary machine, a section 312 of which is shown inFIG. 9, by means of heavy bolts 313 which extend through close fittingholes 314 in the body of the machine with the bolt head preferablyseated in a counter-sunk hole 316. The frame 280 has precision tappedholes 317 to receive the bolts 313. While the machine blocks as shownand described in these FIGS. 9, l0 and 11 and in the other figuresalready described, are comparatively heavy, the inner surface ismachined so that it can be mounted in exactly fitted contact withtheouter surface of the machine body, and only two of the heavy boltsabove described are necessary to maintain it in exactly the correctrelation to the other parts of the machine.

It will be noted that the sprockets such as 286, 291 and 310, with theirmountings all project beyond the inner surface of the frame, but theyare not close to the side'of the frame 230 and extend into the openingin the body of the machine and can thus readily be driven by motorslocated inside the machine body.

Referring to FIG. 12, there is here illustrated a registration controlmechanism which will now be described:

200 represents a web which may have insignia printed thereon, one suchbeing indicated at 201. If the insignia, of which it will be understoodthere is a very large number, uniformly spaced along the web, pass apredetermined spot 202 at the proper interval, the electric eye will notactuate the relay circuit, but if the insignia become slightly out ofregister, the electric eye mechanism 203 will immediately actuate therelay which will act in the usual manner through the control circuitsand will cause one or the other of the switches 204 and 205 to beenergized and electric current to be conducted either to solenoid 206 orto solenoid 207, as the case may be. If solenoid 207 is actuated, a dog208 is pushed into the notches of the dog ring 209 and locks it againstturning, or if solenoid 206 is actuated, dog 210 locks dog ring 211.

As shown in the drawing, the registration control device includes ahousing 212 which is fastened onto the end of shaft 213 by pin 214, andtherefore the housing and What it contains rotates with the shaft 213 asit is driven by main chain drive 215 and sprocket wheel 216 mounted onshaft 213. Worm gear 217 is mounted on the shaft 213 within the housingand engages worm 218 on a transverse shaft 219 which a mounted on itsouter end a gear wheel 220. A differential is mounted in the housing 212and consists of an inner rotatable shaft 225 on which dog wheel 209 ismounted. Shaft 225 also carries a beveled gear 226 which meshes withdifferential beveled gear 227. A second beveled gear 228 corresponds to226 and is attached to a rotatable sleeve 229 having a dog ring 211attached to it at its outer end. The beveled gears 226 and 228 meshwith-the differential beveled gear 227 which is mounted on shaft 230 andcarries gear wheel 231 which is coupled to gear 220 by an intermediategear wheel 232.

'A commutator disc 234 is mounted on shaft 235 having a sprocket wheel236 which is coupled to a similar sprocket wheel 237 on a shaft 238 ofthe axle of one of the sealer rolls.

The sprockets 236 and 237 are interconnected by the usual chain 240.The. two sealer rolls one of the solenoids 2% or 2W will be actuated andone of the dogs will then lock either dog wheel 2519 or dog Wheel 211,as the case may be. immediately the differential will act to veryslightly adjust the transverse sealer rolls and produce its sealingaction exactly at the point where it is desired that it should takeplace hetween the printed insignia on the webs.

Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, the upper part of the body of the machineconstitutes a cabinet with finished surfaces 32% parallel to one anotherand spaced to form an opening 321 so that machine blocks may be mountedon the finished surfaces 32% and bridge the opening 321 with drivingparts extending inside the machine. The face of the machine also hasfinished surfaces 322 on which the web guides 17 and 18 are mounted asalready shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. One of the upper web guides 15, as shownin FIG. 13, instead of being firmly attached to the machine surface 322,is preferably mounted on the bracket 324 which is attached to thesurface 322 by heavy thumb screw 325 so that the position of this guide118 may be slightly modified to adjust between the web strips 'andinsure that they are completely in register when they carry printedmatter or insignia, as already explained.

Mounted on the frame of the machine is an electriceye scanner 326 whichmay be adjusted along the Web by screw 327 which extends through a lug322;. The upper cabinet part of the machine has doors 330 of L- shapedcontour which are hinged at 331 andhave front panels 332- on whichinstrumentsare mounted and side panels 333 which are adapted to closethe machine at the" back when swung into closed position, as indicatedin broken lines in PEG. 114. When the panels are swung open, theinstrument panel surfaces 332 are parallel with the front surfaces ofthe machine. 7

As indicated in FIGS. 13 and 14, there are electric meters 34d and 341,and heater control switches 34 2 and 3 53 may for example be mountedfrom the right-hand panel. 011 the. left-hand panel a relay circuitinstrument 344 and a vibrator feed control-switch 3 .5 are provided. Thearrangement is particularly effective since 2. The structure of claim 1in which a hopper and an auger elevator provide a cascade discharge forthe granular material into the cup in its fillingposition.

axis and swinging the arm so that'the filled cup is 3. A strip packagingmachine comprising die rolls' mounted to cooperate and each havingcollars spaced thereon and in contact with the corresponding collars ofthe cooperating die rolls whereby annular spaces are provided betweencollars, a hollowmandrel extending downwardly from above intofeachannular space, means for feediir web strips over and between the dierolls, an axle frame,,bearing blocks siidably mounted in the frame, anaxle mounted for rotary movement in the bearing blocks, a gear wheelaffixed to the axle, a toothed rack meshing with the gear wheel andmeans for reciprocating the rack, at least one arm attached to the axleand having a measuring cup at its end, a hopper containing the granularmaterial to be fed, a vertical tube opening into the hopper at thebottom and having a dischargeopening near the top, an auger elevator forcontinuously lifting granular ma terial and cascading it out of thedischarge opening, and a doctor blade for holding the arm againstrotation and raking the filled cup during a portion of the strolre ofthe reciprocating rack, permitted by the movement of the sliding bearingblocks, said rack thereafter rocking the discharged into the top of theopen mandrel.

4. The structure of claim 3 having driving means for continuouslyoperating the auger elevator.

only the faces of the instruments need appear on the 1 outer surface ofthe panels, whereas the instruments themselves are on the back of thepanels and swing inside of the machine casing'when the shutters areclosed.

I claim:

1. A strip packaging machine comprising die rolls mounted to cooperateand eachvhaving collars spaced thereon and in contact with thecorresponding collars of the cooperating die rolls whereby annularspaces are provided between collars, a hollow mandrelextendingdownwardly from above into each annular space, means for feeding webstrips over and between the die rolls, an axle frame, bearing blocksmounted in the frame, an axle mounted for rotary movement in the bearingblocks, a

gear wheel affixed to the axle, a toothed rack meshing rectly into thetop of the hollow mandrel at the opposite end of the stroke of the rack.l

5. A strip packaging machine comprising .die rolls mounted to cooperateandceach having collars spaced thereon and in contact with thecorresponding collars of the cooperating rolls whereby anular spaces areprovided between collars, a hollow mandrel extending downwardly fromabove into each of said annular spaces, means for feeding web stripsover and between the die rolls, a hopper containing granular material tobe fed, a shaft mounted at a spaced distance from the mandrels, armsattached to the shaft, each having a measuring cup at its outer end andmeans for oscillating the shaft whereby each measuring cup is in anupright position wherioscillated away from the mandrel and is in areverse posi tion when oscillated toward the mandrel and is adapted todump its contents into the top of the corresponding mandrel.

6. The structure of claim 5, in which is provided means for continuouslycascading the material from. the hopper into, the path of each measuringcup in its upright position. r .7. 'l"he structure of claim 5 in whichan auger feed mechanism continuously lifts the material from the hopperand causes it to cascade into the path of each measuring cup in itsupright position.

8; A strip packaging machine comprising die rolls mounted to cooperateand each having collars spaced thereon and in contact with thecorresponding collars of the cooperating rolls whereby annular spacesare provided between collars, ahollow mandrel extending downwardly fromabove into each. of said annular spaces, means for feeding web stripsover and between the die rolls, a hop- .per containing granular materialto be fed, a shaft mount- References Cited by the Examiner UNITEDSTATES, PATENTS 1,625,461 '4/27 Files 53 -180 XR 2,245,827 6/41Salfisberg 53-180 XR 2,361,052 10/44 Patterson 53180 XR Y FRANK E.BAILEY, Primary Examiner.

TRAVIS s. MCGEHEE, Examiner.

12/56 Stirn et al. Q 53-480 0 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OFCORRECTION Patent No. 3 ,164 ,935 January 12 1965 John Stroop rs in theabove numbered pat- It is hereby certified that error appea ettersPatent should read as ent requiring correction and that the said Lcorrected below.

1ine Z4, for "127", first occurrence, read Column 6,

for "a", second occurrence,

-- 172 column 8, line 59, read has Signed and sealed this 1st day ofJune 1963'.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER ERNEST W. SWIDER Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents

5. A STRIP PACKAGING MACHINE COMPRISING DIE ROLLS MOUNTED TO COOPERATEAND EACH HAVING COLLARS SPACED THEREON AND IN CONTACT WITH THECORRESPONDING COLLARS OF THE COOPERATING ROLLS WHEREBY ANNULAR SPACESARE PROVIDED BETWEEN COLLARS, A HOLLOW MANDREL EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROMABOVE INTO EACH OF SAID ANNULAR SPACES, MEANS FOR FEEDING WEB STRIPSOVER AND BETWEEN THE DIE ROLLS, A HOPPER CONTAINING GRANULAR MATERIAL TOBE FED, A SHAFT MOUNTED AT A SPACED DISTANCE FROM THE MANDRELS, ARMSATTACHED TO THE SHAFT, EACH HAVING A MEASURING CUP AT ITS OUTER END ANDMEANS FOR OSCILLATING THE SHAFT WHEREBY EACH MEASURING CUP IS IN ANUPRIGHT POSITION WHEN OSCILLATED AWAY FROM THE MANDREL AND IS IN AREVERSE POSITION WHEN OSCILLATED TOWARD THE MANDREL AND IS ADAPTED TODUMP ITS CONTENTS INTO THE TOP OF THE CORRESPONDING MANDREL.